History

NOTE is a National federation of 20 Non-Governmental Organisations that came together during a meeting in Goa, India in 1992 under the leadership of Dr Sharad Vaidya

Sharad Vaidya

Sharad Vaidya was an Indian surgeon who specialized in cancer surgery. He established the Goa Cancer Society and founded the Gosalia Memorial Cancer Hospital and the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication.NOTE...

, who was the National Chairman from 1992 until his death in 2000. Currently it is chaired by Dr Shekhar Salkar.

NOTE has Chapters in 7 states namely Karnataka

Karnataka

Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

, Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

, Orissa

Orissa

Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...

, Bihar

Bihar

Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....

, Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....

, Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...

and Goa with headquarters in Goa. There are collaborating institutions and individuals in all States.

Aims and Objects

1. Networking and co-ordinating campaigns of various institutions and NGOs.
2. Exerting pressure on the Government for policy changes
3. Exposing and attacking the tobacco companies
4. Research into various aspects of campaigns and policies at national level.
5. Interaction with international bodies like WHO, UICC, World Bank, American Cancer Society etc. for mobilising international opinion towards a tobacco-free world.

Activities

NOTE's campaign is built on solid information about tobacco and its effects on health. NOTE analyses and assesses public policy, publications, journals,
official reports, medical research and the media. It makes this information available to members and collaborators.

Several research papers have been published under the auspices of NOTE e.g., in BMJ, Lancet , NEJM
.and JIMA
NOTE produces a range of campaigning materials including video cassettes, audio cassettes, flip charts, booklets, posters and stickers.
Through its activities NOTE India was able to bring about a change in the perception about tobacco in the general population and in 1997 the first anti-tobacco law was passed in Goa.The Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, 1997 (Goa Act 5 of 1999) Over the next 10 years the morbidity and mortality from tobacco related diseases reduced significantly.

Member Organisations of NOTE (India)

1. Goa Cancer Society, Goa, NOTE (India)
2. Cancer Care Trust and Research Foundation, Indore
3. WHO Collaborating Center for Oral Cancer, Mumbai
4. Regional Cancer Center, Thiruvanthapuram
5. Consumer Education and Research Center, Ahmedabad
6. Tambakhu Mukti Andolan, Cuttack
7. NOTE India , Karnataka Chapter, Bangalore Institute of Oncology, Bangalore
8. Indian Dental Association Indore Branch
9. NOTE India, Uttar Pradesh Chapter, Lucknow
10. NOTE India, Andhra Pradesh Chapter, Hyderabad
11. Center for Labour Education and Social Research, Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh.
12. P.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Himmatnagar, Gujarat
13. Dr. B. Barooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam
14. Non-Smokers Association, Ranchi, Bihar
15. Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital, & Research Center, Bhopal
16. Voluntary Health Association of India, New Delhi
17. M.E.S. College, Zuarinagar, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa
18. NOTE India, Bihar Chapter, Patna